Fundraising program to support Illinois FFA

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — What do the two phrases, “Planting Your
Potential” and “Growing Legacies,” have in common?

While several may come to mind, it relates to the themes for
the 2013-2014 and 2012-2013 Illinois State FFA Officer teams achieving their
mission and the work of the Illinois Foundation FFA.

“Planting Your Potential” is the theme established by the
2013-2014 State FFA Officer Team. The team is composed of the 25 section
presidents and five major state officers.

The “Growing Legacies” theme comes from the 2012-2013
officer team. Both describe ways that the FFA carries out its mission.

Through Illinois FFA, students develop skills and confidence
to help them succeed in their agricultural careers and throughout their life.
The FFA mission: FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by
developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career
success through agricultural education.

Agriculture education and FFA members are planting their
potential now for their future legacies in the agriculture and food industry.

The Illinois Foundation FFA is one of the oldest,
continuously operating 501(c)3 nonprofit FFA Foundations in the U.S. The
foundation has been growing its legacy of support for Illinois FFA for more than
65 years.

For nearly half of those years, Frank Dry provided the
legacy of leadership to the Illinois Foundation FFA. Dry retired at the end of
2012, and Al Zwilling began work as executive director of the foundation in
January 2013.

Illinois Foundation FFA funding directly supports the future
of the Illinois Association FFA and its members through support to local
chapters and its members for leadership conferences, leadership camp, Supervised
Agriculture Experience grants, plaques and monetary awards for proficiency
Awards, travel stipends and scholarships for students to pursue additional
education.

In addition, it provides financial support to the State FFA
Convention, state officers, career development events and State FFA Degrees.

Today, more than 29,200 Illinois students are enrolled in
more than 320 quality agriculture education programs, preparing them for future
careers in the agriculture, food, fiber, fuel and natural resource industry. A
majority of these students — 17,640 of them — also have chosen to be a part of
FFA, Illinois’ largest career and technical student organization.

Since the support of the Illinois Foundation FFA is a vital
part of the equation that makes a significant difference in the lives in the
experiences of all FFA members, the Illinois Foundation FFA is planting the
potential for future growth.

This fall, the foundation is helping local volunteers and
FFA chapters grow their potential with the 2013 Collection Drive.

New to the Collection Drive for 2013 is an electronic
toolkit of resources that volunteers and FFA chapters can utilize in their
fundraising. The toolkit provides background and ideas that chapters can use to
achieve their fundraising goals.

A greater emphasis will be placed on connecting with former
FFA members through social media and the use on an online donation site,
www.illinoisffafoundation.org/donate/default.aspx.